Open AccessSelf-imaging of orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes in rectangular multimode interference waveguides
Author(s) -
Zelin Ma,
Hui Chen,
Kaiyi Wu,
Yanfeng Zhang,
Yujie Chen,
Siyuan Yu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.005014
Subject(s) - optics , physics , angular momentum , superposition principle , interference (communication) , multi mode optical fiber , orbital angular momentum of light , mode (computer interface) , optical fiber , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , total angular momentum quantum number , computer science , channel (broadcasting) , operating system
We study the propagation of orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes in rectangular multimode waveguides. Due to the multimode interference effect, an OAM mode input forms self-images at certain propagation distances. As OAM modes can be decomposed as the superposition of a pair of quarter-wave phase-shifted even and odd modes, their symmetry properties lead to two different self-imaging categories - forming the OAM-maintaining and the field-splitting self-images. We analyze these phenomena using multimode interference theory, and establish the rules governing the OAM-maintaining self-imaging, which allows the multi-mode interference waveguides to be used as OAM mode splitters and couplers.